Crag Moor Farm

A Regenerative Farm and Learning Center Dedicated to Stewarding the Land and Nourishing Bodies, Minds and Souls

Mission Statement

“Crag Moor Farm exists to conserve the natural beauty and integrity of the land while regenerating soil and ecosystems through ecologically sound practices. By fostering community connection, transformative learning experiences, nourishing food and sustainable living, we cultivate resilience for all beings who call this place home.”

Vision Statement

“To be a place where the natural beauty and integrity of the land are restored and celebrated, where regenerative practices support thriving ecosystems and where people find inspiration, nourishment, and belonging.”

Objectives

1. Regenerate the Land

•Build and maintain fertile soil using practices such as rotational grazing, cover cropping, alley cropping, silvoculture, and agroforestry.
•Conserve ecosystems by protecting and sustaining diverse landscapes, including oak savanna, prairie, wetlands, and natural forest progression.

2. Cultivate Engagement and Community

•Create meaningful opportunities for work, volunteering, learning, and recreation.
•Provide locally grown, healthy foods and value-added products year-round.
•Foster collaborative leadership by developing a non-hierarchical management style that empowers individual managers, guided by core values

3. Innovate with Ecological Technologies

•Implement systems like geothermal greenhouse heating and cooling, aquaculture, biochar soil enhancement, composting (animal and humanure), permaculture-based eco-fuel systems, and sustainable building methods (e.g., hempcrete and earthen blocks).
•Explore mycoremediation, elderberry-based pest control, and medicinal mushroom cultivation.

Marken and Robbin

Regenerative Farmers

The nooks and crannies of Wisconsin’s Driftless Area shelters this 162 acres of varied terrains, rock outcroppings, verdant pastures, vibrant forests, springs and wetland with meandering stream. The area is the natural home of the deer, bobcat, coyote, possum, beaver, an occasional bear and bountiful plant life. Mushrooms, berries, bittersweet and a multitude of prairie and woodland flowers grace the landscape.

The next chapter of Crag Moor Farm is being guided by Marken and Robbin D’elene who bring a multitude of projects and ideas and the skills to give them form. Marken is in charge of the farm operations and maintenance and Robbin oversees the gardens, orchards and care of the animals.

Following in the footsteps of Robbin’s mother who held the original vision for the farm they forge ahead with a renewed respect for all living things and ecologically sound practices which are so very important to preserving the inherent natural beauty and integrity of the land.

In August, 2018 Marken and I moved from Ashland, Oregon to guide the next phase of Crag Moor Farm. Although I grew up and lived for many years in Wisconsin, I have been out West for decades. Our expertise and varied skills prepare us to engage in this venture as we currently vision it. This project has become the primary focus of our time and resources and we are committed to its execution and success.

Marken has an extensive background in many aspects of construction and maintenance, is a heavy equipment operator and holds a CDL. His highest and best is that he can fix just about anything. He also worked for many years in an architects office as a CAD designer and recently completed a beginning Permaculture Certification Course.

I, Robbin, have had a lifelong interest and experience creating gardens using organic, permaculture and biodynamic principles. I co-founded a hands on organic garden and ecology teaching project for the Aspen Community School in Woody Creek, CO and more recently created a garden in Ashland, OR based on Machaelle Small Wright’s Perelandra Garden in Virginia. Other skills include a degree in design and space planning and experience as a furniture designer/builder and light residential remodeling within a small neighborhood based construction company. I also taught a basic home repair course for women through the local vocational college.

PMA

Welcome to Crag Moor Farm and Learning Center, a Private Membership Association of aware individuals who care about the earth, farming, healthy food, enjoy learning new things and wish to celebrate a life that makes sense.

Blog

News from crag moor farm

Farm Progress

One 10 acre upper ridge field was planted with native prairie forbs and grasses in early spring of 2019. This planting has addressed an erosion issue which past field plantings had allowed to develop. Two years of proscribed burns have been implemented. Long range plans include alley crops of elderberries and hazelnuts in the other…

Green House in the Snow

A key direction we would like to go in the very near future is to construct a geo-thermally heated and cooled greenhouse which will enable growing organic vegetables and fruits year round. Our mentor in this venture is Russ Finch of Alliance Nebraska www.greenhouseinthesnow.com He has demonstrated for decades that he can grow non-traditional crops…

History

Crag Moor Farm is 162 acre farm located in SW Wisconsin a few miles north of Spring Green and west of Plain. The first land patents for this land were registered in 1855. After a little more than a 100 years of local small farmers owning the farm the property was transferred to the care…

More News